Washington Capitals forward Travis Boyd told the media that “I view it as a big opportunity to come in and play games,” when discussing the fact that he fills in for center Lars Eller when Eller leaves Toronto in early August for the birth of his child. Conversations with head coach Todd Reirden have been “be ready,” he said. “Hopefully, help the team makes a deep run here,” Boyd continued.

Boyd told the media he is “lucky” to be in the same locker room as guys like captain Alex Ovechkin and defenseman John Carlson, who was nominated for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman this season earlier in the day. “We’ve got so many good guys in this locker room,” he said. Boyd thinks that it is beneficial to watch any player whether they are in their first or second year in the NHL but said that he enjoys watching Carlson and Ovechkin on and off the ice. “They’re hard-working,” he said.

Even with a little girl and a wife at home, Boyd said he is “pretty committed” to the NHL’s return-to-play plan. The Capitals head to Toronto on Sunday for the final week of training camp and open their round-robin tournament against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, August 3, at Scotiabank Arena at 4 PM ET.

Boyd said that he thinks “no way” the Capitals will not not win the Stanley Cup if the team plays the right way.

He called the weekend when the team is on their longest road trip of the season, the “coolest weekend of the year.” Still, Boyd does not want to end up on the wrong floor of Hotel X in Toronto, where the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins will also be staying.

Boyd called Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary, who will be a black ace for the tournament, “a great kid” off the ice and “a comfortable, good guy.” He added that he thinks that the 20-year-old Czech can skate like the wind.

By Harrison Brown